Apparatus for dispensing and applying tape to a cylindrical article



. v R. L. COMET APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING AND APPLYING TAPE TO A GYLINDRICAL ARTICLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 23, 1962 I INVENTOR. RALPH L. Come-r ATTOEN EY S R. L. COMET July APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING AND APPLYING TAPE TO A CYLINDRICAL ARTICLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 25, 1962 INVENTOR. Q 0 MET RALPH L.

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ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,194,713 APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING AND APPLYING TAPE TO A CYLINDRICAL ARTICLE Ralph L. Comet, Nutley, NJ. (200 Baldwin Road, Parsippany, N.Y.) Filed Nov. 23, 1962, Ser. No. 239,686 7 Claims. (Cl. 156-446) This invention relates to the general field of identification and masking apparatus.

It is one of the primary objects of this invention to provide apparatus or means for applymg identifying or masking tapes to articles of manufacture.

Another object of this invention is to provide means for applying identifying or masking tapes to articles having an axis about whlch same may rotate.

A further object of this invention is to provide means for applying a masking or article-identifying tape to cylindrical bodies.

Th1s invention contemplates, as a further object thereof, the provision of means for applying tape to articles rotatable about a given axis to serve as masking means, identification purposes, and for manufacturers points of reference.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a base adapted to rotatably support a hollow cylindrical article together with means for dispensing one or a plurality of identifying .or masking tapes for engagement on and about the cylindrical article.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a base to support, releasably, an elongated cylindrical article for rotation about its longitudinal axis, the base including adjustable means to accommodate cylindrical articles of various axial lengths, together with means to support one or more marking or masking tapes thereon for application to the hollow cylindrical article.

This invention contemplates, as a still further object thereof, the provision of a device of the type generally referred to supra, the device being non-complex in construction and assembly, inexpensive to manufacture, and maintain, and which is durable in use.

Other and further objects and advantages of the in stant invention will become more evident from a consideration of the following specification when read in conjunction with the annexed drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a tape marking or masking device or machine constructed according to this invention; 7

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged, detail cross-sectional view, FIGURE 2 being taken substatnially on the vertical plane of line 22 of FIGURE 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged, detail cross-sectional view, FIGURE 3 being taken on the vertical plane of line 33 of FIGURE 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged, detail, longitudinal, crosssectional view, FIGURE 4 being taken substantially on the vertical plane of line 4-4 of FIGURE 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 5 is a detail cross-sectional View, FIGURE 5 being taken substantially on the inclined plane of line 55 of FIGURE 2, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary, exploded, perspective view, of certain component elements of this invention.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, reference numeral 10 designates, in general, a device or machine or apparatus especially designed for applying masking or identifying tape to an article rotatable about an axis, and constructed in accordance with the teachings of this invention. The device 10 may also be employed to apply tape to a rotatable article to indicate a point or points at which certain manufacturing steps are to take place.

As is seen in the drawings, the device 19 comprises an elongated, substatnially flat, rectangular base 12, the underside of the base 12 being bored at 14 and coun terbored at 16 adjacent each corner thereof. Bores 14 receive therethrough the screws 13 having heads 20 disposed Within the counterbores 16. The screws 18 project above the upper side of the base 12 and are threaded into the undersides of a pair of elongated, substantially rectangular rails 22, 24. The rails 22, 24 are supported on the base 12 adjacent each longitudinally-extending marginal edge thereof, and in laterally-spaced and substantially parallel relation relative to one another. The rails 22, 24 preferably, but not necessarily, having a length coextent with the length of the base 12.

Reference numerals 26, 28 denote a pair of substantially-upright standards, each standard being supported on the upper side of the base 12 and each comprising a substantially-rectangular main body portion 31 elongated in a transverse direction relative to the base 12. The lower end of each standard 26, 28 is formed with a pair of longitudinally-spaced, substantially-parallel, inverted U-shaped slots 32, 34. The rails 22, 24 are adapted to engage Within the slots 32, 34 so that the standards 26, 28 may be adjusted longitudinally relative thereto. Each of the standards 26, 28, adjacent the lower ends thereof, is provided with lnternally-threaded openings or passages 36, 38 coaxially-aligned and which extend inwardly from longitudinally-opposed ends 4t 42 thereof and in which are threaded Wing bolts 44. The passages 36. 38 open into the slots 32, 34, respectively, whereby the inner ends of the bolts 44 may be brought into engagement with the rails 22, 24- and tightened thereagainst to hold the standards 26, 28 in longitudinally-adjusted relation relative to the rails 22, 24.

Each of the standards 26, 28, adjacent their respective upper ends, is formed with an integral upwardly-projecting arcuate boss 4-6 having a centrally-located, transversely-extending opening 5t) formed therein which receive and support the opposed ends of a substantially-cylindrical shaft 52. The shaft 52 is axially-shiftable within the openings 5t) and is provided with an axially-extending fiat side 54 that normally faces the inner end of an elongated internally-threaded passage 56 which extends downwardly and inwardly through each boss 46 at an acute angle relative to the base 12. Each passage 56 has threaded therein a wing bolt 58 adapted for engagement with the fiat side 54 of the shaft 52. This connection between the wing bolts 58 and the shaft 52 permits axial adjustment to serve a purpose to be described below.

Mounted on the shaft 52 are a plurality of rolls 59 of tape 66 which may have varying widths and lengths. Each roll of tape 66 is wound upon an annular substan tially-rigid backing 61 which is mounted upon a core 62 having a central opening 64 formed therein. The opening 64 receives a cylindrical hub 66 therethrough, and the core is freely rotatable thereon. To prevent axial displacement of the core 62 with respect to the hub 66, the hub 66 is formed w th integral, cylindrical, outwardlyextending flanges 68, 79 disposed proximate each side of the core 62.

As is seen in the drawings, special reference being made to FIGURE 5, the hub 66 is integral with an axial extension 72 having a common core 74 extending therethrough to receive the shaft 52 therein. Each extension 72 is provided with a bore 76 to receive a wing bolt '78 to be tightened against the flat side 54 of the shaft 52 whereby the hub 66 and extension 72 are fixed against rotation while permitting the core 62 free rotation about the hub 66. The central body portion 30 of the standard 26 adjacent its upper end opposed to the location of its boss 4a is formed with a transversely-extending bore 80 in which is press fitted a hollow cylindrical bushing or sleeve 82. Mounted for reciprocation within the bushing 82 and extending on opposed sides of the standard 26 is an elongated shaft 84. The shaft 84, on that end thereof remote from the standard 23, has a knob 86 fixedly secured thereto to effect rotation thereof, while the opposed proximate end is internally-threaded at 88 to receive one end of a threaded shank 9th. The other end of the shank 90 is integral with the base 91 of a frusto-conical member 92. Surrounding the shaft 34 and interposed between the base 91 and adjacent side of the standard 26 is a helicoidal spring M;- under compression which constantly tends to bias the frusto-conical member M for movement toward the standard 28.

The standard 23 is formed with a transversely-extending bore 96 co-aligned with the bore 80 and has disposed therein the ball bearing 98 which journals for rotation therein, the internally-threaded shaft 1% to which is connected a knob 1412. The shaft 1% releasably receives therein the externally-threaded shank 104. The shafts S4, 100 have a common axis which is parallel to the axis of the shaft 52. The shank 104 has an end integrallyformed with the base 166 of a second frusto-conical member 1118 disposed in confronting-aligned relation relative to the member 92 which serves as its counterpart. interposed between the base 1th: and the adjacent end of the shaft 160 is a wear or thrust washer 1113.

' Each of the frusto-conical members 92, 1138 is provided with a plurality of longitudinally-extending grooves 112 which are arranged in spaced relationship, and each groove 112 receives therein a nylon insert 114 that projects beyond the outer end of each groove 112.

Reference numeral 116 designates an elongated, substantially-hollow, cylindrical or tubular article upon which masking or identifying tape 61 is to be employed, depending upon contemplated sequential operating or manufacturing steps. The tubular article 116 is suspended, at its ends, between the frusto-conical members 92, 108 and a length 60' (see FIGURE 1) is extended from one or more of the rolls 6% to engage, with the tacky side down, the outer periphery of the cylindrical member 116. Upon contact of the free end of the length 6% with the cylindrical member 116, the operator then grasps one or both knobs 86, 102 and rotates the same in a contra-ciockwise direction (reference being made to FIGURE 1) to cause the tape 64 to substantially lap the cylindrical member 116. The application of the tape 60 designates, to a subsequent operator, the identity of the article and subsequent manufacturing or operational steps which are to be taken in conjunction therewith.

The spacing between the tapes 61) may be varied by releasing and re-setting hubs 66 on the shaft 52, or variation may be obtained through the release of the wing bolts and the subsequent shifting of the shaft 52, in an axial direction. Additionally, loosening of the wing bolts 58 permits the shaft 52 to'clear either or both standards 26, 28, whereby the reels of tape 61) may be removed or replaced by loosening the wing bolts 73 and shifting one or more of the reels 6t) axially of the shaft 52.

The cylindrical member 116 is mounted between the frusto-conical members 92, 193 by first grasping the knob 86 and drawing the same to the left, as viewed in FIG- URES 1 and 4, to cause the frusto-conical member 92 to move toward the standard 26 against the tension of the spring 94. This increases the axial distance between the two frusto-conical members 92, 108 so that they may receive therebetween the ends of the cylindrical member 116. Varying lengths of hollow cylindrical members 116 may A p t be accommodated by adjusting the longitudinal distance between the standards 26, 28 relative to the base 12.

It is obvious that the detachable connections between the frusto-conical members 92,108 with their respective shafts 84, provide means whereby similar frustoconical members of different sizes may be substituted to thereby accommodate hollow cylindrical members 116 of varying diameters therebetween. It'should also be evident that it is unnecessary for the article 116 to be taped to be hollow, it is only being necessary, for the purposes of this invention, that the article be capable of being suspended for rotation between the two frusto-conical members 92, 108; The nylon inserts 114 are utilized to prevent damage to the ends of the tubular member 116.

Having described and illustrated one embodiment of this invention in detail, it will be understood that the same is offered merely by way of example, and that thisinvention is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for dispensing and applying tape to a cylindrical member to be marked comprising a base, a pair of longitudinally-spaced normally-upright standards on said base, a shaft extending between and supported on said 7 standards adapted to rotatably support a plurality of rolls of tape, and means onsaid standards adapted to support said cylindrical member, said means comprising confronting and aligned frusto-conical members rotatably mounted, respectively, on each of said standards, said frusto-conical members adapted to receive the opposed ends of said cylindrical member to support the latter proximate said rolls to receive said tape therefrom as said rolls and cylindrical member are rotated;

2. A device for dispensing and applying tape to a cylindrical member as defined in claim 1, and means on said shaft to prevent axialshifting of said rolls on said shaft.

3. A device for dispensing and applying tape to a cylindrical member as defined in claim 1, and means on said standards to permit axial adjustment of said shaft.

4. A device for dispensing and applying tape to a cylindrical member as defined in claim 1, and said standards being movable longitudinally of said base, and means securing said standards in fixed adjusted positions.

5. A device for dispensing and applying tape to a cylindrical member as defined in claim 1, wherein means are provided to mount one of said frusto-conical members for axial movement on its associated standard toward and away from the other of said frusto-conical members.

6. A device for dispensing and applying tape to a cylindrical member as defined in claim 5, wherein means are provided for constantly biasing said one frusto-conical member for movement axially toward the other of said frusto-conical members. 7

7. A device for dispensing and applying tape to a cylindrical member as defined in claim 1, and said frusto-conical members each having a plurality of inserts mounted in grooves extending longitudinally thereof.-

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,985,997 7 1/35 Keeran Q 156187 2,496,406 2/50 Patrick 156446 2,501,341 3/50 Krueger -450 2,625,197 1/53 Chamberlain l5fi-446 2,944,587 7/60 Newcomb 156550 3,017,313 1/62 'Lagasse et a1 156-446 3,076,493 2/6 Berg 156-446 EARL M. BERGERT, Primary Examiner. 

1. A DEVICE FOR DISPENSING AND APPLYING TAPE TO A CYLINDRICAL MEMBER TO BE MARKED COMPRISING A BASE, A PAIR OF LONGITUDINALLY-SPACED NORMALLY-UPRIGHT STANDARDS ON SAID BASE, A SHAFT EXTENDING BETWEEN AND SUPPORTED ON SAID STANDARDS ADAPTED TO ROTATABLY SUPPORT A PLURALITY OF ROLLS OF TAPE, AND MEANS ON SAID STANDARDS ADAPTED TO SUPPORT SAID CYLINDRICAL MEMBER, SAID MEANS COMPRISING CONFRONTING AND ALIGNED FRUSTO-CONICAL MEMBERS ROTABLY MOUNTED, RESPECTIVELY, ON EACH OF SAID STANDARDS, SAID FRUSTO-CONICAL MEMBERS ADAPTED TO RECEIVE THE OPPOSED ENDS OF SAID CYLINDRICAL MEMBER TO SUPPORT THE LATTER PROXIMATE SAID ROLLS TO RECEIVE SAID TAPE THEREFROM AS SAID ROLLS AND CYLINDRICAL MEMBER ARE ROTATED. 